scholarly journals Public Database-Driven Insights Into Aging Stress-Associated Defective Gut Barrier With Low SARS-CoV-2 Receptors

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuseok Moon
Keyword(s):  
Viral Entry ◽  
Stress Responses ◽  
Gastrointestinal Symptoms ◽  
Metabolic Stress ◽  
Case Fatality ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Receptor Expression ◽  
Gut Barrier ◽  
Stress Signals ◽  
Novel Coronavirus

The novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has led to a global pandemic, and resulted in high case-fatality rate in the elderly. In addition to typical respiratory responses, ~50% of clinical cases include gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and persistent fecal shedding of the virus even after its clearance from the pulmonary system. In the present study, we assessed aging-associated gut transcriptomic responses considering the gastrointestinal symptoms contributing to COVID-19 severity. Intestinal expression of SARS-CoV-2 receptors and defense biomarkers decreased with increasing age. Moreover, aging-associated integrated stress responses (ISR) and mTOR-linked cell metabolic stress signals counteracted gut defense biomarkers. However, SARS-CoV-2 receptor expression was positively associated with gut barrier integrity potently via downregulation of the two stress-responsive signals. Gut transcriptome-based mechanistic prediction implicates that high susceptibility to COVID-19 in the elderly with low SARS-CoV-2 receptors is due to aging stress-associated defective gut defense, providing a new avenue for viral entry receptor-independent interventions.

scholarly journals Single-cell RNA expression profiling of ACE2, the receptor of SARS-CoV-2

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yu Zhao ◽  
Zixian Zhao ◽  
Yujia Wang ◽  
Yueqing Zhou ◽  
Yu Ma ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Single Cell ◽  
Viral Entry ◽  
Small Population ◽  
Receptor Expression ◽  
Strategy Development ◽  
Rna Expression ◽  
Alveolar Cells ◽  
Type Ii Alveolar Cells ◽  
Rna Expression Profiling ◽  
Novel Coronavirus

AbstractA novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 was identified in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China in December of 2019. According to WHO report, this new coronavirus has resulted in 76,392 confirmed infections and 2,348 deaths in China by 22 February, 2020, with additional patients being identified in a rapidly growing number internationally. SARS-CoV-2 was reported to share the same receptor, Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), with SARS-CoV. Here based on the public database and the state-of-the-art single-cell RNA-Seq technique, we analyzed the ACE2 RNA expression profile in the normal human lungs. The result indicates that the ACE2 virus receptor expression is concentrated in a small population of type II alveolar cells (AT2). Surprisingly, we found that this population of ACE2-expressing AT2 also highly expressed many other genes that positively regulating viral entry, reproduction and transmission. This study provides a biological background for the epidemic investigation of the COVID-19, and could be informative for future anti-ACE2 therapeutic strategy development.

A Decisive Review to Understand the Basic Fundamentals of Novel Corona Viruse Disease

2021 ◽  
pp. 118-124
Author(s):  
Sweta Sweta ◽  
Navdeep Singh
Keyword(s):  
Target Selection ◽  
Case Fatality ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Laboratory Diagnosis ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Molecular Testing ◽  
Fatality Rate ◽  
Infection Control Measures ◽  
New Public Health ◽  
Novel Coronavirus

With the development and spread of 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV), also known as the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, a new public health disaster is threatening the world (SARS-CoV-2). In December 2019, the virus was discovered in bats and transmitted to humans via unidentified intermediary species in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China. To date (05/03/2020), there have been roughly 96,000 recorded cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-2019) and 3300 documented deaths. The disease is spread through inhalation or contact with contaminated droplets, with a 2 to 14-day incubation period. Fever, cough, sore throat, dyspnea, weariness, and malaise are common symptoms. The disease is mild in most people; in some (usually the elderly and those with comorbidities), it can lead to pneumonia, ARDS (acute respiratory distress syndrome), and multi-organ failure. A large number of persons are asymptomatic. The case fatality rate is expected to be between 2 and 3%. Specimen collection, assay collection, serology, nucleic acid testing or molecular testing, and target selection for RT-PCR are all examples of laboratory diagnosis. Home isolation of suspected cases and those with mild illnesses, as well as tight infection control measures in hospitals, including contact and droplet precautions, are all part of the prevention strategy. The virus has a lower fatality rate than its two ancestors, SARS-CoV and Middle East respiratory sickness coronavirus (MERS-CoV). The global consequences of this new epidemic are still unknown.

Highlighting the Correlation Between Telomere Shortening and the Susceptibility to the Novel SARS-CoV-2 Virus (COVID-19)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aml Ghanem
Keyword(s):  
Telomere Length ◽  
Stress Responses ◽  
Viral Infections ◽  
Deep Understanding ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Telomere Shortening ◽  
Infection Pathways ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Demographic Distribution

COVID-19 is a global crisis that requires a deep understanding of infection pathways to facilitate the development of effective treatments and vaccines. Telomere, which is regarded as a biomarker for other respiratory viral infections, might influence the demographic distribution of COVID-19 infection and fatality rates. Viral infection can induce many cellular remodeling events and stress responses, including telomere specific alterations, just as telomere shortening. In brief, this letter aims to highlight the connection between telomere shortening and susceptibility to COVID-19 infection, in addition to changes in telomeric length according to the variation of age and gender of confirmed cases with COVID-19 infection. To sum up, the correlation is revealed from the available data that connect telomere length and COVID-19 infection, demonstrated in the fact that the elderly patients and males are more susceptible to COVID-19 due to shortening in their telomere length.

scholarly journals SARS-CoV-2 Is Not Detected in the Cerebrospinal Fluid of Encephalopathic COVID-19 Patients

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dimitris G. Placantonakis ◽  
Maria Aguero-Rosenfeld ◽  
Abdallah Flaifel ◽  
John Colavito ◽  
Kenneth Inglima ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cerebrospinal Fluid ◽  
Viral Entry ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Host Cells ◽  
Nasopharyngeal Swab ◽  
Rt Pcr ◽  
Neurologic Sequelae ◽  
Show Evidence ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
Transmembrane Serine Protease

Neurologic manifestations of the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 infection have received wide attention, but the mechanisms remain uncertain. Here, we describe computational data from public domain RNA-seq datasets and cerebrospinal fluid data from adult patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia that suggest that SARS-CoV-2 infection of the central nervous system is unlikely. We found that the mRNAs encoding the ACE2 receptor and the TMPRSS2 transmembrane serine protease, both of which are required for viral entry into host cells, are minimally expressed in the major cell types of the brain. In addition, CSF samples from 13 adult encephalopathic COVID-19 patients diagnosed with the viral infection via nasopharyngeal swab RT-PCR did not show evidence for the virus. This particular finding is robust for two reasons. First, the RT-PCR diagnostic was validated for CSF studies using stringent criteria; and second, 61% of these patients had CSF testing within 1 week of a positive nasopharyngeal diagnostic test. We propose that neurologic sequelae of COVID-19 are not due to SARS-CoV-2 meningoencephalitis and that other etiologies are more likely mechanisms.

scholarly journals Pediatric COVID-19 and the Factors That May Mitigate Its Clinical Course

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (01) ◽  
pp. e137-e140
Author(s):  
Mosaad Abdel-Aziz ◽  
Nada M. Abdel-Aziz ◽  
Dina M. Abdel-Aziz ◽  
Noha Azab
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Features ◽  
Clinical Symptoms ◽  
Clinical Course ◽  
Clinical Manifestations ◽  
Gastrointestinal Symptoms ◽  
Angiotensin Converting Enzyme 2 ◽  
Compulsory Vaccination ◽  
Specific Factors ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
Radiographic Data

AbstractThe clinical manifestations of novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vary from mild flu-like symptoms to severe fatal pneumonia. However, children with COVID-19 may be asymptomatic or may have mild clinical symptoms. The aim of this study was to investigate clinical features of pediatric COVID-19 and to search for the factors that may mitigate the disease course. We reviewed the literature to realize the clinical features, laboratory, and radiographic data that may be diagnostic for COVID-19 among children. Also, we studied the factors that may affect the clinical course of the disease. Fever, dry cough, and fatigue are the main symptoms of pediatric COVID-19, sometimes flu-like symptoms and/or gastrointestinal symptoms may be present. Although some infected children may be asymptomatic, a recent unusual hyperinflammatory reaction with overlapping features of Kawasaki's disease and toxic shock syndrome in pediatric COVID-19 has been occasionally reported. Severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronvirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) nucleic acid testing is the corner-stone method for the diagnosis of COVID-19. Lymphocyte count and other inflammatory markers are not essentially diagnostic; however, chest computed tomography is highly specific. Factors that may mitigate the severity of pediatric COVID-19 are home confinement with limited children activity, trained immunity caused by compulsory vaccination, the response of the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 receptors in children is not the same as in adults, and that children are less likely to have comorbidities. As infected children may be asymptomatic or may have only mild respiratory and/or gastrointestinal symptoms that might be missed, all children for families who have a member diagnosed with COVID-19 should be investigated.

scholarly journals COVID-19 in conflict border regions: a case of South Kordofan, Sudan

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Quraish Sserwanja ◽  
Mohammed Bashir Adam ◽  
Joseph Kawuki ◽  
Emmanuel Olal
Keyword(s):  
Case Fatality ◽  
Mechanical Ventilators ◽  
Governmental Organizations ◽  
Non Governmental Organizations ◽  
Bed Capacity ◽  
Displaced People ◽  
Set Up ◽  
One Year ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
South Kordofan

AbstractThe novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) was first reported in Sudan on 13 March 2020. Since then, Sudan has experienced one of the highest rates of COVID-19 spread and fatalities in Africa. One year later, as per 22 March 2021, Sudan had registered 29,661 confirmed cases and 2,028 deaths with a case fatality rate (CFR) of 6.8 %. By 12 December 2020, of the 18 states in Sudan, South Kordofan had the fifth highest CFR of 17.4 %, only surpassed by the other conflict affected North (57.5 %), Central (50.0 %) and East (31.8 %) Darfur States. By late March 2021, just three months from December 2020, the number of cases in South Kordofan increased by 100 %, but with a significant decline in the CFR from 17.4 to 8.5 %. South Kordofan is home to over 200,000 poor and displaced people from years of destructive civil unrests. To date, several localities such as the Nubba mountains region remain under rebel control and are not accessible. South Kordofan State Ministry of Health in collaboration with the federal government and non-governmental organizations set up four isolation centres with 40 total bed capacity, but with only two mechanical ventilators and no testing centre. There is still need for further multi-sectoral coalition and equitable allocation of resources to strengthen the health systems of rural and conflict affected regions. This article aims at providing insight into the current state of COVID-19 in South Kordofan amidst the second wave to address the dearth of COVID-19 information in rural and conflict affected regions.

scholarly journals COVID-19 in comparison with other emerging viral diseases: risk of geographic spread via travel

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Wilder-Smith
Keyword(s):  
Reproduction Number ◽  
Emerging Infectious Diseases ◽  
Case Fatality ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Air Travel ◽  
Viral Diseases ◽  
Fatality Rate ◽  
The Past ◽  
Geographic Spread ◽  
Emerging Viral Diseases

Abstract Purpose of review The COVID-19 pandemic poses a major global health threat. The rapid spread was facilitated by air travel although rigorous travel bans and lockdowns were able to slow down the spread. How does COVID-19 compare with other emerging viral diseases of the past two decades? Recent findings Viral outbreaks differ in many ways, such as the individuals most at risk e.g. pregnant women for Zika and the elderly for COVID-19, their vectors of transmission, their fatality rate, and their transmissibility often measured as basic reproduction number. The risk of geographic spread via air travel differs significantly between emerging infectious diseases. Summary COVID-19 is not associated with the highest case fatality rate compared with other emerging viral diseases such as SARS and Ebola, but the combination of a high reproduction number, superspreading events and a globally immunologically naïve population has led to the highest global number of deaths in the past 20 decade compared to any other pandemic.

scholarly journals Estimates and Determinants of SARS-Cov-2 Seroprevalence and Infection Fatality Ratio Using Latent Class Analysis: The Population-Based Tirschenreuth Study in the Hardest-Hit German County in Spring 2020

Viruses ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 1118
Author(s):  
Ralf Wagner ◽  
David Peterhoff ◽  
Stephanie Beileke ◽  
Felix Günther ◽  
Melanie Berr ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Latent Class Analysis ◽  
Latent Class ◽  
Care Home ◽  
Case Fatality ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Class Analysis ◽  
Population Based Study ◽  
Targeted Testing ◽  
June July

SARS-CoV-2 infection fatality ratios (IFR) remain controversially discussed with implications for political measures. The German county of Tirschenreuth suffered a severe SARS-CoV-2 outbreak in spring 2020, with particularly high case fatality ratio (CFR). To estimate seroprevalence, underreported infections, and IFR for the Tirschenreuth population aged ≥14 years in June/July 2020, we conducted a population-based study including home visits for the elderly, and analyzed 4203 participants for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies via three antibody tests. Latent class analysis yielded 8.6% standardized county-wide seroprevalence, a factor of underreported infections of 5.0, and 2.5% overall IFR. Seroprevalence was two-fold higher among medical workers and one third among current smokers with similar proportions of registered infections. While seroprevalence did not show an age-trend, the factor of underreported infections was 12.2 in the young versus 1.7 for ≥85-year-old. Age-specific IFRs were <0.5% below 60 years of age, 1.0% for age 60–69, and 13.2% for age 70+. Senior care homes accounted for 45% of COVID-19-related deaths, reflected by an IFR of 7.5% among individuals aged 70+ and an overall IFR of 1.4% when excluding senior care home residents from our computation. Our data underscore senior care home infections as key determinant of IFR additionally to age, insufficient targeted testing in the young, and the need for further investigations on behavioral or molecular causes of the fewer infections among current smokers.

scholarly journals Neurological and Neuropsychological Changes Associated with SARS-CoV-2 Infection: New Observations, New Mechanisms

2021 ◽  
pp. 107385842098410
Author(s):  
Muhammad Ali Haidar ◽  
Hussam Jourdi ◽  
Zeinab Haj Hassan ◽  
Ohanes Ashekyan ◽  
Manal Fardoun ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Viral Entry ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Circumventricular Organs ◽  
Depression And Anxiety ◽  
Virus Surface ◽  
Angiotensin Converting Enzyme 2 ◽  
Neuropsychological Changes ◽  
High Risk Populations ◽  
The Central Nervous System

SARS-CoV-2 infects cells through angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), a ubiquitous receptor that interacts with the virus’ surface S glycoprotein. Recent reports show that the virus affects the central nervous system (CNS) with symptoms and complications that include dizziness, altered consciousness, encephalitis, and even stroke. These can immerge as indirect immune effects due to increased cytokine production or via direct viral entry into brain tissue. The latter is possible through neuronal access via the olfactory bulb, hematogenous access through immune cells or directly across the blood-brain barrier (BBB), and through the brain’s circumventricular organs characterized by their extensive and highly permeable capillaries. Last, the COVID-19 pandemic increases stress, depression, and anxiety within infected individuals, those in isolation, and high-risk populations like children, the elderly, and health workers. This review surveys the recent updates of CNS manifestations post SARS-CoV-2 infection along with possible mechanisms that lead to them.

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